iPone is launched in Austria but still not in Middle East

[Magnus]

Apple seem to continue to ignore the large market of the Middle East and instead focus on small European countries but introducing the iPhone in Austria.

[bartels]

Originally Posted by Magnus

Apple seem to continue to ignore the large market of the Middle East and instead focus on small European countries but introducing the iPhone in Austria.

haven't seen any Arabic iTunes Store either....there are anyway many iPhones around MENA region

apart from iTS the biggest hurdle will be to apply Apple's model to local regulatory conditions - TRA will not allow handset exclusivity and 1-2 year contract as it is elsewhere

Austrian tariffs are OK, better then O2 Ireland (that's the biggest rip off I've ever seen in telco)

[ultrablue662]

A company must mold its "model" to a country/region's laws, not the other way around. if that is whats keeping Apple from releasing the iPhone here then I will proudly never carry one.

[bartels]

Originally Posted by ultrablue662

A company must mold its "model" to a country/region's laws, not the other way around. if that is whats keeping Apple from releasing the iPhone here then I will proudly never carry one.

if you followed launch in France then you would know, that Apple aplies its rules within the law, but renders it useless or too expensive to use beyond their intended way...

but again - don't expect iPhone to be officially launched in countries without Apple's own presence and iTunes store...the fact that GCC is being served through France indicates a long way to go

on the other hand I don't understand what keeps you from buying the device, jailbreak it and use it? I'm enjoying my 16GB version and look forward to soft.release 2.0 with Exchange support... I never bought a subsidized phone on a contract in Europe and have no intentions to do so because of iPhone, I'd rather live on the edge but free